Hand 431 — RKCB: The Queen Ask

Play this hand
Dealer
S
User Side
N/S
Contract
6S
Declarer
S
Tricks Makeable
13
Recommended Lead
JD
Vulnerability
None
System
SAYC

Planning

After learning the partnership has enough key cards, use the cheapest non-trump bid to ask about the trump queen. The following are the replies available
5 in trump suit do not have queen
5NT, yes, but no side king
6 of any (not trumps) I have the queen and the king of the bid suit

The Deal

North
K 10 8 5
A Q 5
A 4
A 9 6 3
West
9
J 10 9 6 2
J 10 9 8
J 8 4
East
6 3 2
8 7 4
K 6 3 2
10 7 5
South
A Q J 7 4
K 3
Q 7 5
K Q 2
North: 17 HCP, 4-3-2-4 (bal)
East: 3 HCP, 3-3-4-3 (bal)
South: 17 HCP, 5-2-3-3 (bal)
West: 3 HCP, 1-5-4-3

Bidding Sequence

S W N E
1SPass2NTPass
4SPass4NTPass
5DPass5HPass
6CPass6SPass
PassPass

Final Comments

Looking at both hands, we have a loser in diamonds.
After trumps are drawn, play out the clubs. If they break 3/3, we can discard a diamond on the 4th club. In addition, our short heart suit means we can discard another diamond
on the K or A of hearts, thereby making 13 tricks in all